• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.136-143
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• 2021

Objectives : The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak is a global medical crisis imposing particular burden on public sector employees. The aim of this study was to investigate the psychiatric distress among public sector workers amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods : We conducted a cross-sectional study with 531 public sector workers in Gwangmyung city who completed Korean versions of the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and Impact of Event Scale-Revised-Korean (IES-R-K). Results : The results revealed more than moderate levels of stress (85.2%), depressive symptoms (22.2%), and posttraumatic stress symptoms (38.8%). PSS total score was significantly correlated with PHQ-9, IES-R-K total scores as well as IES-R-K subscale scores. Total scores on the PSS, PHQ-9, and IES-R-K were all inversely correlated with age. Conclusions : COVID-19-related workers experience considerable stress and depressive symptoms, with self-rated stress correlating significantly with depression scores. Age may serve as a protective factor against occupational stress and burnout. These findings highlight the need for adequate psychiatric screening and intervention for public sector workers.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.191-191
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• 2011

This article is retracted by the request of the author due to serious errors found in data analysis. The author would like to express sincere apologies to the readers for any inconvenience caused by this retraction.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.8
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• pp.4705-4709
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• 2013

Background: Cambodian Americans have high rates of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and liver cancer. There is very limited information about the utility of community health worker (CHW) approaches to cancer education for Asian American men. We have previously reported our positive findings from a trial of CHW education about HBV for Cambodian Americans who had never been tested for HBV. This report describes similarities and differences between the outcomes of our CHW HBV educational intervention among Cambodian American men and women. Methods: The study group for this analysis included 87 individuals (39 men and 48 women) who were randomized to the experimental (HBV education) arm of our trial, participated in the CHW educational intervention, and provided follow-up data six months post-intervention. We examined HBV testing rates at follow-up, changes in HBV-related knowledge between baseline and follow-up, and barriers to HBV testing (that were reported to CHWs) by gender. Results: At follow-up, 15% of men and 31% of women reported they had received a HBV test (p=0.09). HBV-related knowledge levels increased significantly among both men and women. With respect to HBV testing barriers, women were more likely than men to cite knowledge deficits, and men were more likely than women to cite logistic issues. Discussion: Our study findings indicate that CHW interventions can positively impact knowledge among Cambodian American men, as well as women. They also suggest CHW interventions may be less effective in promoting the use of preventive procedures by Cambodian American men than women. Future CHW research initiatives should consider contextual factors that may differ by gender and, therefore, potentially influence the relative effectiveness of CHW interventions for men versus women.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Toxicology Conference
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• 2001.05a
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• pp.151-151
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• 2001

According to the epidemiological studies in chromium workers, hexavalent chromium is associated with the risk of lung cancer. Reactive oxygen species produced by hexavalent chromium exposure may play an important role in the carcinogenesis process. We measured one kind of oxidative DNA damages, 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) and its repair activities as an indicators of cellular oxidative stress in rat lungs by the repeated inhalation exposure to sodium chromate.(omitted)

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.18-37
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• 1989

This study was done in order to analyze the factors which influenced the performance level of community health practitioners' task. Interview survey was done during the period from August to October, 1986. Interviewee were 166 CHPs among total of 217 CHPs in Kyonggi province area. Multiple stepwise regression and canonical correlation analysis were used to identify major factors influenced to perform community health practitioners' task. The results of this study were summarized as follows: 1. General characteristics of CHPs 1) Personal characteristics The average age of CHPs was 37.8 years and their marital status was $77.6\%$ of married, educational back-ground was $65.3\%$ of junior college graduation. Their job career was $38.6\%$ of between 1-3 years, $33.3\%$ of between 3-5 years, $22.2\%$ of less than 1 years. Most of CHPs$(62.8\%)$ were fully satisfied with their job, $33.3\%$ were moderately, and $3.8\%$ were not satisfied. 2) Working environmental condition Only $31.7%$ of CHPs were satisfied with their working condition of primary health post, $26.6\%$ were not satisfied. Half of CHPs$(52.5\%)$ replied having good cooperation with health center, $10.1\%$ replied bad. Cooperation with health subcenter was good in $32.9\%$, and bad in $21.9%$. Cooperation with private health institutions was good in $34.2\%$, bad in $21.6%$. 2. Performance level of community health practitioners' task Among a total of 52 contents of their functions medical history taking. physical examination, referral of diagnostic laboratory work-up($(86.4\%)$, health assessment of pregnant women$(82.1\%)$, development of health information system$(79.4\%)$, supervision of health workers $(78.4\%)$, follow-up of family planning acceptors$(77.3\%)$, and follow-up of family planning acceptors' side effects$(77.3\%)$ were actively performed. Diagnosis of pregnancy$(62.1\%)$, sampling of drinking water for quality test$(52.5\%)$, making list of equipment' & supplies $(51.5\%)$, evaluation of primary health post activities $(37.6\%)$, organization of village health workers$(32.4\%)$ and management of village health workers $(30.1\%)$ were poorly performed. 3. Stepwise multiple regression analysis of job function The factors which influenced the performance level of community health practitioners' function were age, marital status, educational level, job career, job satisfaction, satisfaction of working environment of primary health post, cooperation of health center, cooperation of health center, cooperation of private health instiutions in orders. These 9 variables were able to explain job function from $25.7\%$ of program planning to $6.7\%$ of management of common disease. 4. Canonical correlation analysis between the performance of function and general characteristics of CHPs. Cooperation of private health institutions was found to be the factor influencing task performance of community organization, management of primary health post, technical supervision of health personnels. Job satisfaction of CHPs was also found to be the factor influencing task performance of family planning, management of common disease and maintenance of health information system.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.593-603
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• 2019

Purpose: Previous studies have highlighted that the nutritional behaviors among South Korean workers are far from ideal. This study examined the organizational influences affecting the eating practices of office workers in South Korea. Methods: We conducted in-depth interviews with 22 office workers at 12 companies in South Korea. The interviewer inquired about the employees' daily routines on food and beverage intake. The various factors that influence their food choices in their work environments were also explored. The interviews were transcribed and then analyzed using a content analysis. Results: A framework analysis revealed 7 key recurring themes, and these were grouped under three levels: team-, company-, and corporate group-levels. First, team dinners are core social events for all the workers and they tend to include high-caloric food and alcoholic beverages. The frequency of team meals and the food associated with them depend on various team characteristics such as gender composition, the nature of a team's work and the team leaders' emphasis on group meals. Second, the company's policies and practices regarding budget allocation for team meals and subsidies for cafeteria meals affect the workers' food intake practices. In addition, the physical environment of the worksite cafeterias can influence the choices of foods. Third, various corporate group policies that were not designed to target food intake had additional positive effects on the workers' eating behaviors. Conclusion: This study provides important insights into the broader organizational influences on the food consumption of employees in their workplace. These insights can be used to design and implement more effective intervention strategies for improving the nutritional behaviors of office workers.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.208-214
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• 2005

Objectives: This study was performed to examine the factors affecting re-smoking in male workers. Methods: A self-administrated questionnaire survey was conducted during April 2003 to examine the smoking state of 1,154 employees of a company that launched a smoking cessation campaign in1998. Five hundred and eighty seven persons, who had stopped smoking for at least one week, were selected as the final study subjects. This study collected data on smoking cessation success or failure for 6 months, and looked at the factors having an effect on re-smoking within this period. This study employed the Health Belief Model as its theoretical basis. Results: The re-smoking rate of the 587 study subjects who had stopped smoking for at least one week was 44.8% within the 6 month period. In a simple analysis, the re-smoking rates were higher in workers with a low age, on day and night shifts, blue collar, of a low rank, where this was their second attempt at smoking cessation and for those with a shorter job duration (p<0.05). Of the cues to action variables in the Heath Belief Model, re-smoking was significantly related with the perceived susceptibility factor, economic advantages of smoking cessation among the perceived benefits factor, the degree of cessation trial's barrier of the perceived barriers factor, smoking symptom experience, recognition of the degree of harmfulness of environmental tobacco smoke and the existence of chronic disease due to smoking (p<0.05). In the multiple logistic regression analysis for re-smoking, the significant variables were age, perceived susceptibility for disease, economic advantages due to smoking cessation, the perceived barrier for smoking cessation, recognition on the degree of harmfulness of environmental tobacco smoke, the existence of chronic disease due to smoking and the number of attempts at smoking cessation (p<0.05). Conclusion: From the result of this study, for an effective smoking ban policy within the work place, health education that improves the knowledge of the adverse health effects of smoking and the harmfulness of environmental tobacco smoke will be required, as well as counter plans to reduce the barriers for smoking cessation.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.9 no.5
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• pp.487-492
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• 2023

The Korea Post plays a public role in providing postal services such as mail, savings, and insurance to the public. Although postal machines are becoming automated, workers are still exposed to various industrial accidents caused by being caught in the mail, and musculoskeletal disorders. Therefore, occupational safety and health activities are needed to prevent serious accidents. In this study, the level of safety and health consciousness was analyzed for employees working in the postal logistics center The tasks such as regulations and procedures, organization composition, and safety and health education method improvement, were classified into five items and proposed, and efficient industrial accident prevention was presented.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.275-283
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• 2021

Objectives: The workplace is an ideal place for encouraging health-promoting behaviors. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to determine the effect of an empowerment program on the health-promoting behaviors of women workers. Methods: This randomized clinical trial was conducted with 80 women workers employed at a food packaging facility in 2020. The subjects were selected using convenience sampling and were classified into intervention and control groups using block randomization. An empowerment program for women workers was conducted across 6 sessions based on an empowerment model. Data collection tools included a demographic questionnaire and the Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile-II, which participants completed both before the program and 8 weeks after the last session. Data analysis was performed in SPSS version 16 using descriptive analysis and inferential statistics. Results: There were no significant differences between the 2 groups in various health-promoting behaviors before the program. However, the intervention group's scores for nutrition (34.92±1.09 vs. 27.87±4.23), physical activity (24.40±2.94 vs. 17.40±5.03), stress management (26.35±2.60 vs. 23.05±4.27), spiritual growth (34.02±3.00 vs. 30.22±5.40), interpersonal relationships (30.82±2.38 vs. 27.60±4.61), and health responsibility (31.60±2.71 vs. 28.22±4.59) were significantly higher than the control group's 8 weeks after the program had ended. Moreover, there was a significant difference in the total score of health-promoting behaviors for the intervention group compared to the control group (179.00±9.22 vs. 151.42±20.25, p=0.001). Conclusions: An empowerment program for women workers led to significant improvements in the health-promoting behaviors of the participants. Similar programs can ultimately improve women's health in the workplace.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.167-176
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• 2005

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify factors to predict of condom use for the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) among sex workers in a Korean community. The theoretical ground of this study was the Interaction Model of Client Health Behavior. Method: A descriptive, cross sectional and retrospective research design was employed in this study. A total of 100 sex workers who take a clinical check-up on STDs regularly at W Public Health Center were recruited by convenient sampling, and with consent to participate in this study. All of the measures were piloted, and the reliability of each scale ranged from 0.7 to 0.9. Data were analyzed using discriminating function analysis with SPSS-PC. Results: Five independent measures (partner preference for using condoms, subjects desire to prevent STD, age, type of relationship and sexual self-determination) contributed significantly to the best discriminating function. The discriminating function analysis resulted in correct classification of 83.1% of the respondents into their corresponding groups. Conclusion: Condoms are a main means of STDs prevention. Risk-reduction interventions that enhance communication skills and intrinsic motivation will be effective in increasing condom use to prevent STDs among sex workers.